Oxbcytlab glove-knitting maohdte



L LAWSON.

CIRCULAR GLOVE KNtTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0.12, ms.

1,401,712.. Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

F:- ab B SHEETS-SHEET l- I28 Invenior: John awson.

J. LAWSON. CIRCULAR GLOVE KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION mzo 0mm. ma.

' 1,401,712. Patented Dev. 27, 1'921.

80 .Eg-Q. I r a sums-sneer 2.

Inventor Lawaow, 4 ohn W yaa ad yw a 1. LAWSON. CIRCULAR GLOVE KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. '2. "l8. 1,401,712. Patented Dev. 27, 1921.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Invenior: o) o JohnLaw/s/oiu 5,2 M 1 by 3 1159s.

J. LAWSON.

CIRCULAR GLOVE KN'HTING MACHINE. APPLICATI'ON .HLED DEL l2. I9l8.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

a! Q} 8 Q Inventor: t5 7 John/Lawson.

J LAWSON cmcuum suave KNH'HNG mncume. APPLICATION FlLZD US$12.19). 1,401,712. Patented Dec. 27, 1921,

v 8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

l'wvenior: John Lawson.

Mm. fi a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN LAWSD'N, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR lid-KEEPER! 00M- rm, OF CENTRAL FALLS, RHODE ISLAND,

A CORPORATION OH MASSACHUSETTS.

- CIRCULAR GLOVE-HITTING MACEDlE.

Specification oi Letter: Patent.

Patented Dee. 2'7, 1921,.

Application filed December 12, 1918. Scrialllo. 280,481.

chines and more particularly to machines for knit gloves or like hand coverin s, the perticu or embodiment of machine or the urpose illustrated herein being a circular initting machine, the needle cylinder and cam rin whereof are relatively reciprocated for orming the hand, thumb and fin ers.

fur. the oo-pendiurhg' e plicution of George P. Bosworth, Ser' lgl' 252,965, filed September 6, 1918, and stout 1,3 85,963, dated July 26, 1921, there are disclosed and claimed knitted %loves, the tips of the thumb and fingers of w rowing and widening in the knitting opera.- tion, and in said applications a method of knitting involving such fashionin operation for the thumb and finger tips is c aimed.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 256,283, filed Se tember 30, 1918, I have disclosed a knitted glovef wherein the thumb and finger tips are reenforced, as by the introduction of an additional thread, and wherein also the said thumb and finger tips are fashioned by narrowing and widening, such fashioned glove and the method of forming the same being claimed in said upplicntion.

In the present application I disclose and claim broadl mechanism for fashioning the thumb and also herein disclose means for reinforcing said thumb and finger tips, such means being, if desired, employed in coniunction with said fashioning means and claimed in combination therewith and as hereinafter set forth.

While I have herein illustrated a machine for producing a knitted glove which is like that fully described and claimed in the said co-pending apglication of George P. Bosworth, Ser'al 0. 258,205, I desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited in use to the fashioning of thumb and finger lich are fashioned by nar tips of knitted gloves. I

tens, may he fashioned in the knitting' operation, and preferably by narrowing and widening. By a glove-mitten I mean a hand covering having a. digital ocket to inclose loss than all the fingers, at more than one.

In order that the principle of my inventron may be readily understood, I have disclosed a smgleembodiment thereof in the accompanying drmvi' s, whereinlilgure 1 is a front e ovation of a circular kmttm machine embodying my invention;

Flg. is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail in vertical transverse section of the cam drums of the machine- Fig. 4 is a vertical section upon the line 4- 4 of Fig. 3; r

Fig. 5 is a front elevation part of the knittin' machine;

Fig. 5 1s a detail in elevation and partiall in section of a portion of a widening pic :er mechanism that may be employed in the practice of my invention;

F g. 6 1s a plan vieiv of the machine;

F 1g. 6 is a diagram indicating the cams for selecting the needles that are to form the thiunh and the fingers respectively;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken through Fig. 5 "and Fig. 8 is a diagram indicating the cams upon the three, cam drums of the machine;

of the upper While my invention may be employed in knitting articles other than glove blanks or units, or a. connected sequence thereof, is preferably employed in the manufacture of such blanks or units, and preferubl the blank or unitsnre formed by relativ reciprocating the needle cylinder and cam ring (herein by reciprocati the needle '?l1nder), so that in starting Es preferably do) at the lower end of the wrist,citl1er at the front or the back of the hand, I may knit byreciprocating knitting 'a strip blank of the width of the hand, the igi bein preferebly all knitted integrally with the hand strip. The thumb may be separotely knitted and afterward ap lied to the hand in any suitable way. I she I, however. describe the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein upon a. circular machine lOO having independent needles, I begin at the base of the wrist at the back thereof and after, knitting the wrist and hand, byreciprocating knitting, I knittlie fi ers in any desired sequence, as, for examp e the little finger, the second, the third an the first fingers, after which I knit the palm ofthe hand down to the thumb then knit the thumb, then the lower part oi the hand, and finally the wrist.

Preferabl the entire knitting operation is performed by reciprocating knitting, but my invention, as before stated, is not limited thereto. If desired, the wrist, both at front and back, may be fashioned in the knitting operation, which may be done by commencing the knitting upon a lesser number of needles than used in luiitting the hand proper and adually incrcasii the number until the oil width is reachct reversing this 0 eration in completing the front or other ialf of the wrist.

While, as stated, the knitting oi the wrist may be begun, upon a. lcmer number of needles than used in knitting the hand and such is within the scope of my invention, I will assume for the purposes of this description that the wrist is knitted upon the some number of needles that are employed in knitting the hand.

The machine herein shown is one peculiurly adapted for the knitting of a right hand glove, but the princi 1c of my invention Wlll of course be sim' arly carried out in a machine for knitting a left hand glove.

In knitting the thumb and fingers, I may at the proper points simply retain in action the desired needles while rendering the re maining needles inactive, but permitting them to retain their loops. Preferably, however, when I have reached the point where a change in the number of needles in action is to be reflected as. for example, at the commencement of the little finger, I, in most cases, elevate all the needles just in action, while permitting them to retain their loops and then immediatelv bring down again into action those needles that are next to be employed. I shall in the ensuing description reter to the preferred mode of action. but it is to be understood that I am not limited thereto.

My invention and particularly the features thereof relating to the fashioning of the thumb and finger tips and also to the reinforcing thereof, may be applied, among other types of knitting machines, to that shown in the co-pending application of George P. Bosworth, Serial No. 263,28 i, wherein in order that the import needles may be acted upon by the knitting cams for the formation of each digit section or strip, means are provided for centering for the time being with reference to the Imittin; cams and the yarn guide, that group of restricted to needles operative in the knitting of a digit strip, this being accomplished in said npplh cation by'angularly shifting the needle cylinder with relation to its actuating connection.

While, us already stated, my invention may be embodied in knitting machines of various types including straight knitting machines, have herein shown my invention as applied to that general class of circular knitting machines disclosed in the patent to Hemphiil, No. 933,443, dated September! 1909, for circular automatic stock ing machines. My invention is in no wise use in connection with that general type of machine, which is merely selected for convenient illustration, and which obviously is modified in importantparticulars to effect the knitting of a glove or like blank.

I preferably employ a single knitting cam or set oflmitting cams, though I am not limited to such number. In addition to the knitting cam or cams, I provide means for selecting the needles that are to be employed in the formation of the several digit strips, and while within the scope my invention any suitable means may be employed for this purpose, I preferably provi e other cams which I designate gem orally as the non-lmitting cams, and which in the disclosed embodiment of my invention comprise one cam for elevating the needles out of action, one cam for restoring needles to action, and fire cams for selecting the needles for the five digit strips.

Thesaid selecting cams may be caused to operate upon the needles in any suitable wa y, but preferably for this purpose I provide the needles with elongated stems or else below the knitting butts of the needles I provide jacks and preferably jacks of five dificreut lengths, one length being provided for thc thumb and the other lengths for the four fingers respectively. In this or in any other suitable manner, the selecting cams will select and present to the lmitting cam or cams the] proper group of needles for the knitting of each digit strip. disclosed in the said applications, it is desirable to provide certain. gusset needles at the ba se of the digit strips, and preferably I provide means whereby the said selecting cams may select certain needles from adjacent groups to not in forming the gusset portions of the digit strips. This I preferably do by providing the proper needle jocks with two sch-acting butts, all as more fully described in the said machine application of George P. Bosworth, and hence not necessary herein more specifically to refer to.

Inasmuch as certain general parts of the mechanism herein shown may be and prefer ably are the some as those shown in the said patent to Hcmphill. No. 933,443. I have designated such parts by the same reference characters that are employed in the same patent. Thus the machine frame is marked a, the rotatable needle c 'linder is marked N, and the non-rotatabe cam carrier is marked H. The pulleys for the driving band are marked respectively p, 7), 10 in Fig. l, (quick speed, slow speed and loose), and as a in Fig. 2 is indicated the main shaft on which said pulleys are mounted. The pattern shaft is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 as a, f and 9, being the pattern or cam drums or barrels upon the said pattern shaft 8, and f is the pattern ring on the drum or barrel I, which engages with the member I), carried by the clutch shifting lever b for the purpose of controlling the.

said lever, and, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, for maintaining said lever in the position to produce reciprocating kn1t ting throughout. The details of the mechanism controlled by the pattern ring f through which the needle cylinder is reciprocated forward and backward for fiat or reciprocating knitting may be and referably are the same as in the said Hemphill Patent No. 933,4 t3, and are unnecessary to be shown herein.

Although-I shall describe in detail that embodiment of my invention wherein the needle cylinder reeiprocates, and the. cam ring is stationary, it is obvious that the reverse mode of operation may be employed within the scope and purpose of my invenon. The latch ring 0 is pivoted at one side at 1 upon the 11 right 2, as in the usual Hemphill or so-cal ed Banner machine, and preferabl substantially 90 therefrom, it is receive upon an upright post or standard, as

. in the said Hemphill patent.

The needles which preferably are of the latch needle type are not herein shown. They are-arranged in a circular series, but less than the entire number of needles may be and preferably are used in the entire knitting operation. A suitable number of needles are used in knitting the front and the back of the hand, and preferably a number of needles in excess thereof are used in knit- -ting the four finger strips, since, preferably in knitting each of said finger strips, I employ, as stated, gusset needles normally used in knitting the adjoining finger strips.

Assuming the knitting to begin at the bottom of the wrist and for example at the back thereof, and assuming merely for sin plicity of description that the wrist is of the full width of the hand (though as above stated, it may be fashioned by narrowing and widening in the knitting operation) it will be understood that in commencing the knitting all of the needles that are used in knitting the hand at front or back are in action and the knitting proceeds upon the usual knitting cams, such, for example, as. those shown in the said Hemphill latent No. 933,443, for the formation by reciprocating knitting of a preferably straight strip selvaged at opposite. edges to constitute the back of Y the hand. Having reached the bases of the fingers, I next proceed to knit, preferably one at a time, the several finger strips and shall herein describe the said strips as knitted in order beginning with the little finger. Obviously, however, the finger strips may be knitted in any desired order pr sequence, and by using a. lurality of knltting cams, a plurality of digit strips may be knitted slmultaneousl In order to knit the little or any other finger or thumb strip, I preferably throw out of action all the needles and then return to action the needles that are to be employedin knittin such strip. For this purpose, I may provide any sultable means, and I will now briefl refer to the means for throwing up out 0 action needles at the desired time.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, I provide a needle throw-up cam 3, generally similar it may be in mode of o eration to the cam 19 in the said app ication of George P-. Bosworth, Serial No. 263,284, and not necessary to describe in entire detail. The said cam 3 is slidably mounted in a suitable support 4 and has a stem 5 which is operative y connected to or acted upon by, as through a pin 6, a bell crank lever 7 pivoted at S and pivotally connected as shown in Fig. .1 with an upright rod 9, the lower end of which is pi votally connected to a lever 10 that is operatively associated with the pattern or cam drum 9', being controlled by suitable cams thereon as indicated in the diagram Fig. 8.

After the completion of the four finger strips as hereinafter stated, I provide means for throwing down into action all the needles that are to be employed in knitting the front or it may be the back of the hand. While for this purpose I may employ an suitable means, 1 preferably provide a nee le throwdown ram 11, shown most clearly in Figs. (5 and 7, and preferably 0 erated in a manner similar to the correspon ing or like cam in the said Bosworth application, Serial No. 263,284. As herein shown the said cam 11 is provided with stem 12 slidingly mountedin a support 13 and having a pin 14 upon which acts a bell crank lever 15, which is itself pivotally connected to an upright rod 16 shown most clearly in Fig. 2 and connected at its lower end to a lever 17 which at its opposite and extends into proximity with the pattern or cam drum 9', so as to be controlled by the. proper cams thereon in a man ner not necessary more fully to describe.

In order to select the needles to form the several digit strips, I provide herein five cums indicated somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. (P at 1'9. El 21, 22 and 18 the said cams selecting preferably through the dcscrihcd butts upon the needle jacks the needles that are to be employed in knitting respectively the little finger, and then in succession the third, the second and the first fingers and then the thumb. The said cams may he controlled and operated in any suitable way and preferably by means substantially as shown ill Fig. l3 and elsewhere of the said application of George I. llosivorth, Serial No. 263.284. To that end Iprovidc the slides numbered respectively 9.3, 9.4, 25, 2c. 27. having wedge shaped heads 23. 24', .25. 2c, 2?. Said slides are respectively connected pivoiully to bell crank levers 28. 29, 3o 31. which as indicated most clearly in Figs. l and 5, are connected pivotally to upright rods 253, #54. 36, 37, extending downwardly to and pivot-ally connected to lovers 3%; rise, til. 41. 2 2, which extend into operative proximity to the cam or pattern drum and are ;n' biy controlled by cams thereon indicated in the diagram Fig. 8.

The knitting cums are not herein shown in detail. but preferably they comprise four cams in a single group. such, for xample, as one of the groups of knitting cums in the said application of Bosworth, Serial No. 263.284. In Fig. 3', I have indicated in plan a portion of said cums, and have represented them as mounted upon a cam block ,4 of any suitable type, and herein carried or supported in a manner generally similar to that shown in the said Hemphill Patent No. 9315.443; Preferably the said cam block is not mounted for radial movement. though such movement may be provided therefor if desired.

In the manner described or in any other suitable way, 1. provide means for bringing into action orfor maintaining in action the desired needles for knitting the first digit strip which for convenience of description inav be referred to us the little finger strip. The knitting non proceeds reciprociitingly upon the selected number of needles. so as to knit :1 flat strip sclvnged at opposite edges, and of sufficient width to form the buck of the little finger.

In accordance with my invention which I desire to claim broadly herein, I provide means to fashion in and by the knitting op oration each of the digit strips and especiullv at the tips thereof, and preferably to that end I provide means efi'ective atthe suitable time as, for example, when the knito h r r'gressed about to the bottom of tmh as p U and may widely vary in difierent strips and the nail of the little finger, whereby I elevate or remove from action at the end of each movement of recig ocation a single needle while permitting 1 to retain 1t s loop so that it may thereafter be restored 1n the widening operation.

Tothis end, I have herein represented two narrowing ickers 44, 45 indicated most clearly in Figs. 5 and 7 and which may be mounted at any, suitable part of the mechanism, but arehcrein shown as pivotally mounted upon inclined posts 46, 47, upon the cam block 43, coil springs 4:8,49 being provided tending to throw said pickers down into action. Said pickers may be of any suitable construction and may be, for exam le, of the general t e of narrowing pic ers shown in the said lemphill Patent 933,443. Said pickers are normally held out of action, being as stated permitted to act only in fashioning the tips of the thumb and fingers. While any suitable means may be providedto control their action, I have herein for the purpose represented a strip or bar 50 horizontally positioned in the rear of the cam block 43 and having plunger like members 51, 52 extending inward therefrom at right angles through suitable sodkets 53, 54,111 a frame 55. At their inner ends', the smdmembers 52, 53 take against the body or pivotal portions 56, 57 of said pickers so as to swing them upwardly into the inactive position indicated in Fig. 5. A spring 58, shown most clearly in Fig. 7, tends to move said strip or bar 50 outward toward the supporting post 59, projecting upward from the frame of the machine. Thus, when the plunger-like members 51, 52 are moved out ward or toward the post 59, the narrowing pickers 44, 45 are brought into action.v

The said narrowing pickers having been brought into action, they operate in a manner not herein necessary more fully to describe to throw up out of action while retaining its loop, preferably a single needle at each end of a. movement of reciprocation of the needle cylinder or reciprocating part. This action automatically continues until the narrowing has been effected to the desired extent. Obviously the narrowing may be of any suitable character and extent and may occur upon consecutive reciprocations or movements of the needle cylinder, or, if desired, it] may occur only upon certain 56- lected reciprocations. If, as preferably dewith difl'erent,gages of machine.

I may provide any suitable means for acting upon and cunning to operate the said means for rendering the narrowing ickers active. For that purpose, I have herein represented the post 59 as having secured thereto a bracket 60 upon which 13 pivoted at 61 a suitable bell crank lever, one arm 62 of which takes a ainst the outer side of the bar or strip 50. '1 c said bell crank lever is provided with a second arm 68, which asshown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 5, is suitably connected to an upright rod 6% to the lower end whereof is suitably connected a lever 65 extending into operative relation to the cam or pattern drum f, so a to be controlled by suitable cams thereon and which are indicated in the diagram, Fig. 8, by the vertical row of cams 66, etc.

It will be noted, viewing Fig. 8, that the cam drum f is provided with a suitable series of cams vertically in line with the cam 66 and indicated at 66, 66", 66, 66, for similarly throwing in the narrowing pickers to eifectthe narrowing operation respectivel for the tip of the third fin r, the secon finger, the first fin er and t ie thumb. So far as I am aware, i am the first to provide means constitutin part of a knitting organization for effecting the fashioning in the knitting operation of digit strips, and claim the same broadly, whether or not such di it strips or any of them are reinforced in who e or in part in any suitable manner, as by throwing in a thickeningf thread or by substituting a thicker threat for the neon knitting thread at some suitable part in the knitting of such digit strip or stri s. Preferably, however, I provide means or reinforcing the digit strips at the tips of the thumb and fingers, and also prefers lv I make such reinforcement co-extensive with the fashioning of such thumb and fin er strips, thou h obviously I am not limite thereto. I aha I, however, proceed to describe the reinforcing as extending in one direction to the bottom of the nails of the thumb and fingers, and in the opposite direction to a con-es n point on the inside of the thumb on finger.

For this general purpose'I may, as indicated in Fig. 6, emp oy three or any suitable number of thread guides or levers 67, 68, 69, which are pirotallv mounted u :on a transverse pivot 70 in the latch ring l in a manner not necessary more fully to de scribe and controlled by suitable levers. one of which is indicated at- 71 in a manner more fully described in the said Hemphill Patent 933,443. The thread uide 68 may be cmployed for the usual itting thread, the thread guide 67 being our loyed for the reinforcin thread and the t read guide 69 being, if csired, employed for a marking thread that may be thrown momentarily into action at the end of the knitting of a glove blank and servingl as a marker in the subsequent severing of t is entire blank mto units.

It is unnecessa to describe in dctai1 the means for control ing the threads, it being,

however, noted that the thread guide 67 for the reinforcing thread is preferably controlled by an upright rod 72 shown in Fig. 1 operatively connected to said thread guide in any suitable manner and connected at its other end to a lever 78 extending into operative relation to suitable cams upon the cam drum 1. Similarly the lever-69 for the marking thread is suitably connected to an upright rod 74, which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever 75 also controlled by suitable cams upon the cam drum f.

The reinforcing thread as well as the marking thread, if employed, are preferably severed when withdrawn from action, though within the sec e and purpose of my invention they may e floated without bein severed. 11 order to sever such threads, preferably rovide a suitable cutter indicated at 76 in *i 6, and I also provide a suitable binder 7 for the severed thread, the same being operated in a manner not herein neoema more fully to describe, as, for example, a presser 78 carried by a lever 79, WlliO'l at its outer end is (pivotally connected at 80 to an upright re 81, which at its lower end is pivotally connected at 82 to a lever 83 pivoted at 8t and having an arm 85 extending into operative relation to the cam drum f, being con trolled by suitable cams thereon.

I have stated that the reinforcing or the thumb and fingers is preferabl though not necessaril co-extonslve with t e fashioning thereof. In Fig. 8, I have diagrammatically indicated cam means whereby the reinforcing b at the back of each of the finger and tmmb stripe at the same time that the narrowing thereof begins. For this purpose, I have in diagram in Fig. 8 indicated at the left of the vertical row of cams 66, 66", etc., a vertical row wherein the spaces 86, 86. 86", 86 and 86' effect the throwing-in of the reinforcing thread. It

will be noted that these spaces begin in each case substantially in horizontal line with the lower border of the cam which renders the narrowing pickers active. The com elcvations between said spaces rovide means whereby the said reinforcing thread is thrown out of action. Inasmuch as the reinforcin is preferabl carried over the tip of the fingers and tiumb down onto the front thereof, the said reinforcing thread is, of course, maintained in action after the narrowin pickers have been rendered me E- fective, a as will be readily understood.

I have described one form or embodiment of means whereby the thumb and finger strips may be and are narrowed 1n thekmtting operation, and whereby if desired a reinforcmg thread may be introduced or substituted so as to reinforce the tips of the thumb and fingers. I W111 now proceed to describe one form of means whereby I complete the fashioning of the thumb and linger strips by correspondingly widening the said thumb and fin cr strips. This I preferably efleet by provi picker means, although am not limited to the employment of such means and may be provide any suitable means or instrumentalitics. Preferably, however, I provide picker means and to that end I may provide a single widening picker to control t e return to action of the needles that have been removed from action.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, however, I have represented two pickers, one of which contro s the widening for certain of the digit strips, and the other of which controls the widening for the remainingjdigit strips.

hese pickers (or picker, if a single one be employed) me be operated in any suitable manner, as, or example, from the cam drum or the cam drum g, but preferably I provi e n. separate means for controlling such picking means, and in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, I have provided a separate pattern or cam drum winch, however, I preferably mount upon the same shaft that carries-the pattern or cam drums and 17.

While I am not limited to the emplovmcnt of the type of means herein described, it desirable in this embodiment of my invention to employ separate means for control ling the widening pickers since the cam drum f controls the reinforcing thread, and if, therefore, a further movement of rotation be imparted to the cam drum f in order to bring into action the widening bicker-s, it would tend to interfere with the proper timing of the means for introducing the reinforcing thread.

It is obvious that in differenttypes or cmbodiments of my invention, other means quite distinct from those herein described may be employed for controllingthe widening icker or pickers. It is also obvious that in t ose ty es of my invention wherein a reinforcing t iiread is not supplied, I may opcrate the widening picker or pickers directly from the pattern drums f or g.

Referring, however, to that specific embodiment of means herein represented. i have in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 5 and 8, represented two widening pickers 87, 88, the first being herein emplo ed for effecting the widening of the tips 0 the little finger and the third finger and the other being employed for efi'ecting the widening of the tips of the second and first fingers and the thumb. These pickers are of any suitable character and their inner or active end portions are guided by suitable guides 89, 90. These. guides are suitably recessed as indicated at 9 in Fin. 5, so that the picker may operate in either direction of reciprocation of the num'llo of inder or reciprocating element, so as to throw -1,&01,712

a needle or needles down from the inactive series, that is, to restore to action the needles which have been elevated in the narrowing operation. The needle "butts are roperly presented to the widening pickers y dams While the said widening pickers may be of any suitable construction, preferably their inner ends are of such size and shape that they may depress or bring into action two needles at a time. Preferably I bring into action two needles at a. time, since preferably I retain the narrowing pickers in action during the widening operation, and inasmuch as the narrowing ickers continue to elevate a needle at the on of each reciprocation, I so construct the widening pickers as to throw down two needles at the end of each reciprocation with the not result that the fabric is widened to the extent of one needle at the end of each reciprocation.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, upon a suitable support 92, I rovide a socket 93 wherein is mounted the pivotal stud 94 of a block 95 wherein is mounted the horizontal ivot 96 of the widcningpicker 87. A simicr supporting means is provided for the widening iclccr 88. Suitable springs, 97, 98 are provi ed tending! to elevate the inner or active ends of the widening pickers, and said ends are guided downward against the stress of said springs owing to the conformation of the recesses 91.

When said widening pickers are in inactive position their inner or active ends are or may be positioned between the horizontal rows of the knitting butts, that is, between the butts of the active and inactive needles. In order to render said pickers active, they are elevated or are permitted to rise into ong'agement with the upper row of the knitting butts. To that end I provide means normally holding said pickers in the described inactive posit-ion but permitting them to be elevated under the stress of the springs 97, 98. While for this impose any suitable means ma be provided. I have herein represented for the picker 87 an arch or hook-like member 99 indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, which is operativcly connected to a bell crank lever 100, itself pivotally connected to an upright rod 101 that in turn is pivotally connected at its lower end to an arm 102 of a lever pivotecl in a forked bearing 103 secured to the part 104 of the machine frame. The opposite arm 105 of said lever has pivotally connccted thereto an upright rod 106 that at its lower end is pivoted to a lever 10?, extending; into operative relation to suitable cams upon a drum 108 shown most clearly in F igs. 1 and 3.

Similarly: the picker SS is controlled by an arch or hook-like member 109 mounted upon a lever 1L0 pivoted at 111. to which is pi otally connected at 112 an upright rod 111) that at its lower end is pivotally connected to the lever 114 extending into operative relation to the said cam drum 108.

I have stated that the widening pickers are in this embodiment of the invention controlled from the cam driun 108. Any suit able means may be employed to move said drum at proper intervals and an other suit able meansma be substituted or said cam drum to controfthe movements of the widening picker or ickere. Herein I have represented the said cam drum 108 as loose upon the shaft 8', being held in position thereon between the cam drum 9 and a collar 115 faston the said shaft 8'. Bolted to one side of the coin drum 108 by bolts 116 isa ratchet wheel 117 herein provided with thirty-six teeth. At one side of the ratchet wheel 117 and secured thereto and to the cum drum 108 by the bolts 116 is a ratchet wheel 118 which in this embodiment of my invention is provided with one tooth as 0 early indicated in F ig. 4. The said ratchets 117 and 118 are of course loosely mounted upon the shaft r.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 1. the shaft 8" has fast thereon the nsunl ratchet wheel 119, herein provided with thirtyrsix teeth. This ratchet wheel is driven by pawl mechanism not herein illustrated and preferably the same as in the well-known Banner machine and substantially the same as shown in said I-Iemphill Patent. No. 933,443. The driving pawl for the ratchet- 119 is controlled in its movement by a pivoted pawl-like member 120 suitably .lnonnted and the movements of which are controlled by the usual pattern chain 121 in a manner not herein necessary more fully to describe. The pattern chain 121 is controlled in its movement by the usual ratchet wheel 122 loose upon the said shaft 8, the said ratchet wheel being driven in any usual manner not herein necessary more fully to describe, it being preferably the means employed on the said Banner muchine.

Upon the pattern-chain 121. I provide a.

' special lug or formation 123 adapted periodically to take under the end 124 of a pawl 125, which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, has an elongated shaft 126 mounted in bearings 19.7, 128 in a bracket 129 supported upon the framing of the machine. At its and o poaite the pawl 125 the shaft 126 is proviv ed with a lag or arm 130 test thereon and adapted periodically to be swimg n1 ward against a pawl 131 pivoted at 13?. upon a lever arm 133 itself fast upon the usual quadrant shaft 134 for imparting movements of reciprocation to the needle cylinder. The tooth 135 of'the pawl 131 is adapted to be lifted periodically by the lug or arm 130 so as to engage the teeth of the ratchet 117. Whenthe'lug or am 130 is not elevated the pawl 131 reciprocates idly and no movement is imparted to the ratchet 117 or to the cam drum 108 thereby. At the proper intervals, that is, when it is desired to bring the widening pickers into action. the pawl 131 is elevated momentarily and a slightmovement of partial rotation is imparted to the cam drum 108, which as shown in the diagram. Fig. 8 is provided with cams 136, 137, 133, 18!) and 140 which cause the widening pickare at the proper time to become active as previously stated.

Inasmuch as the cam drum 108 is loose upon the shaft 3, it is evident that means must be provided to preserve the same in its pro or circumferential relation with respect to t is cam drum f and 9. While any suitable means may he provided for this purpose, I have herein shown means whereby the cam drum y, when given '1 movement of partial rotation correspondingly moves the cam drum 108. but in such a manner as to permit said cam drum to be itself moved ahead independently thereof through the ratchet wheel 117 and the pawl 131. For this purpose. the cam drum 9 has pivoted to the face thereof next the ratchet wheel v118. at 141, a. pawl 142 normally pressed by spring 1&3 into meshing relation with the ratchet 118 so as to engage the single tooth 144 thereon.

It will be obvious that through the described construction, the pattern or cam drum 9 will impart to the cam drum 108 all its own movements of partial rotation and that the said cam drum 108 may be moved incrementally forward at the proper time so as to bring the pro or cm into operative relation with the wi ening picker mechanism.

In the diagram Fig. 8, I have. shown upon the pattern or cam drum g the came for controlling the movements of the non-knitting cams as well as the cams for cutting the marking and the reinforcing threads. Those cams are marked upon said figure for identification and need not be more particularly described.

The fashioning, which is preferably of the tip portions of the thumb and ii rs, may he of any desired length, and desired may occur at intervals or otherwise throughout the greater part of the thumb and fingers. and even to the hose thereof. The reinforcing. whether it occurs by the introduction of an additional thread or the substitution of a thicker thread, or otherwise. need not be (so-extensive with the fashioning. Either of these features may he more prolonged in action than the other, and within the scope of my invention the reinforcing may be applied to arts of the glove other than the thumb and fingers.

Preferably and as herein disclosed the means for controllin the introduction of thereinforcing thread is such that the reinforcing thread While in action is knitted with the main thread from salvage to selvage of the parts where introduced, as, for example, in the thumb and linger strips, and especmlly at the tips thereof.

If desired. the fashioning, as by narrowing and widening, may be greater at one side of a. digit strip than at the other side, as, for example, of the outside of the first and little fingers; thnt'is, the fashioning in such or any other desired cases may commence at a. point lower down on the finger at one side than the other. Within the scope of my invention, I may knit a glove, the front and back of which are structurally separate and are afterward seamed together. In such case, the front of the glove would preferably the. front of the thumb and finger strips formed integrally therewith, and likewise the back of the glove would have the back of the thumb and finger strips knitted integrally thereon. In such case, the tip portions of the strips, both for the front and for the back of the thumb and fingers, are fashioned preferably by merely a narrowing operation. Such an operation is within the scope and purpose 0" my invention and within the scope and meaning of the claims. Such a. form of glove is disclosed in the patent to George 1?. Bosworth, 1,339,592, dated May 11, 1920. Obviously by varying the number of needles employed, I can knit any size glove or hand covering, since the number of needles used are less than all the needles.

Having thus described one illustrative cmhodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in o. generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation. the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a. needle carrier and a. com carrier to knit the hand and fingers of a glove, and picker means to fashion the tips of the fingers during and by the knitting operation.

2. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder and cam ring for knitting hand coverings and picker means for fashioning in the knitting operation the tip of a. digital member or members thereof.

3. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means for knitting hand coverings and mechamica-lly acting means to manipu-late the needles while retaining the loops to efi'ect fashioning, in the knitting operation, of the tips of the digital members by a narrowing and widening operation.

4. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder and cam ring to knit the lnlnd and fingers ofo. glove ond picker means to fashion the tips of the fingers during and by the knitting operation.

5. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means to knit the hand, tlnnnb um] fingers of a glove, and picker means to fashion the tips of the thumb and fingers durin and by the knitting operation.

6. lbnitting mechanism comprising in combination, .a circular knitting machine having a. needle cylinder and a cam ring, means to impart a. relative movement. thereto thereby to knit the hand and digital members of a glove, and picker means to fashion the tips of the digital members in and by the knitting operation.

7. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a. circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and a. cam ring, means toimpart a rel'ctive movement thereto thereby, to knit th hand, thumb and fingers of a glove, and picker means to fashion the tips of the thumb and fingers by a narrowing and Widening action in and by the knitting operation.

8. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means to knit a body portion of a. hand covering, means to kmt a relofively narrow extension strip as an integral prolongation thereof, and which strip is jnu-allel sided throughout the major portion thereof and picker means to fashion said oxtension strip in and by the knitting operation.

9. Knitting mechanism comprising in L'Ol'flbllllltlOl'l, means to knit a fiat body portlon of a hand covering salvaged along opposlte edges, means to knit a relatively narrow, oppositely selvoged strip as an integral prolongation thereof, and mechanically acting means to manipulate the needles while retaining the loops, to effect fashioning, in n knitting operation, of the said salvaged strip, by a narrowing and widening operation.

10. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a. needle cylinder a cam ring, means to impart movement 0 relative rcciprocotion thereto to produce the hand portion and the digital portions of n glove, and picker means periodically operative to fashion said digital portions by a narrowing and \videnin operation.

Khitting mechanism comprising in combination, a. needle cylinder, a. cam ring, means to impart movement of relative reciprocation thereto, to produce the hand portion and the digital portions of n. glove, norrowing and \vi ening picker mechanism, and means to render said mechanism operative for fashioning the said digital portlons.

l2. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a com ring, means to impart movement of relative reciprocation thereto, to produce the hand portion and the digital portions of a glove, narrowing and widening picker mechanism, and means to render said mechanism operative onl during the formation of the ti of sai digital portions, thereby to ifashion said ti ortions.

13. mtting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to im movements of relative reciprocation t ereto, to produce the'hand portion and the digital ortions of a. glove, a pair of narrowing pi ers, and one or more widening pickers, and means to render said pickers operative durin the formation of the Ftips of the digits portions, thereby to fashion the same.

14. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a casing, means to intifiart movements of relative re ciprocation iereto, to produce the hand portion and the digital portions of a ove, a pair of narrowing pickers, a. pair of widenmg pickers, and means to render said picker operative on] during the formation of the tips of'the t umb and fingers, thereby to fashion the same.

15. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart movements of relative reciprocation t ereto to produce a flat selva ed strip constituting the hand portion oil: a glove with integral salvaged continuations constitutin the thumb an fingers, narrowing and wi ening pickers, and means to render said pickers operative durin the formation of the tips of the thumb and fingers, thereby to fashion the same.

16. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle carrier anda cam carrier to knit the hand and fingers of a glove and mechanically acting means to manipulate the needles while retaining the loops to eifect the fashioning, in the knitting operation, of the tip or tips of the digital member or members during the lmitting operation.

17. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle c linder and a cam rim to knit the hand and fingers of a glove an; mechanically acting means to manipulate the needles while retaining the loops to eifect the fashioning, in the knitting operation, of the tip or tips of the digital member or members during the knitting operation.

18. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means for knitting the and and digital ortions of a *glove, joker means to fa don the tips 0 said clgital portions, and means to reinforce parts of said digital portions including the tips thereof.

19. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means for knitting the hand thumb and fingers of a glove as an integral unit, means to introduce a reinforcing thread for portions of said thumb and fingers including the tips thereof, means to sever the reinforcing thread, and cooperating narrowing and widening picker means to fashion said reinforced tips 20. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means for knitting the hand, thumb and fingers of a glove as an interal unit, means to introduce a reinforcing t read for portions of said thumb and fingers including the tips thereof, narrowing and widening pickers to fashion said tips, cam means to control the reinforcing thread and said ickers, and means to maintain the pro or re ation of aid cam means.

2 Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, means for knitting the hand. thumb and fingers ofa glove as an integral unit, means to introduce a reinforcing thread for portions of said thumb and fingers including the tips thereof, narrowing and widening pickers to fashion said tips, se arate cam'means to control the reinforcing thread and said ickers, and means to throw into 0 oration t e widening picker without distur ing the means for controlling the reinforcing thread.

22. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination means for knitting the hand thumb and fin ers of a glove as an integra unit, means to introduce a reinforcing thread for portions of said thumb and fingers ineluding the tips thereof, narrowing and widening pickers to fashion said tips, se arate cam means to control the reinforcing thread and said cfiickers, and means to bring the widening i cm into 0 oration without withdrawal 0 the narrowing pickers and without disturbing the cam means for controlling the reinforcing thread.

28. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder a cam ring, means to impart movement of relative reciprocation thereto to produce the hand portion and the digital portions of a glove, a pair of narrowingl pickers, means to operate the same only uring the formation of the tips of the thumb and fingers, to narrow the same, a pair of widenin pickers, means to operate one of said widemng pickers only during the formation of the tips of the tlnunb, first and second fingers, to widen the same, and means to operate the other of said widening pickers only during the formation of the third and little fingers, thereby to widen the same.

24. Knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to impart movement of relative reciprocation thereto to produce the hand portion and the digital portions of a glove, 2. pair of narrowing picker, means to operate the same only during the formation of the ti 5 of the thumb and fingers, to narrow the same, a pair of widening pickers, means to opereteoneof said widening pickers only during the" formation of thea tips of the thumb firstiand second fingers, to widen the same; means to operate the other of said \videnin ickers only duringthe formation of the 511111 and: littlefingers, thereby to widen the same,- andcooperating means to reinforce the tips-of the thumb and fingers.

25. In a knitting. machine, a. needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to reciprocate the needlecylinder to knit the front and the back of a glove, selecting cams to select gron s of needlesrfor the'formation of the thnxn and fingers of the glove, meens'to knit reciprocetingly upon the selected needles to form thethumb end=fingers, and means to fashion-by-the-knitting operation the tips of the thumb and fingers.

26'. In e-knitting machine, e-needle cylinder, a. cam ring, mea-ns to reciprocate the needle cylinder toknit the front and the backof a glove, selecting came to select gran s of needles for theformation of the them end fingers of. the glove, meensto knit reciprocetingly upon the selected needles toform. the thumb" and fingers,

means to introduce a reinforcing thread from selva-ge to salvage of the thumb and finger tipsto reinforce the some, and picker means to fashion said thumb and finger tips.

er1ng, endthe digital portions of a glove as an integral fabric, and mechanically acting means to manipulate the needles while retaining the loops to narrow and widen the digital ortionsto constitute finger tips.

28. knitting mechanism comprising in combination, a needle cylinder, a cam ring, means to im cart movement of relative reci )rocetien t eretotoproduce as an integral in rie'th'ehand portion of a glove and the finger extensions thereof, picker means to narrow and widen each of said finger pol tionsnt' the tip thereof, and means to rein force said tip portions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN LAWSON. 

